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Patented Feb. 2|, I899.

S. A. BAILEY.

BICYCLE SADDLE SPRING.

(Application filed m 25, 1897.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES THE uowms PETERS 00.. PNOTO-LITHO:, WASHINGTON. u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELDEN A. BAILEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE-SADDLE SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,012, dated February21, 1899.

Application filed May 25,1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SELDEN A. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New York, in the county of New York, in the Stateof New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inBicycle-Saddle Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bicycle-saddle spring which automaticallyadjusts itself to the weight of the rider and carries a heavyweightrider with the same ease and elasticity that it does a light-weightrider and one which permits both ends of the saddle to move up and downwith the same freedom and adjusts itself to the position of the riderwhether he sits in erect position or bends forward.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a perspective view ofmy improved saddle-spring detached from the saddle. Fig. 2 represents aside elevation of my improved spring attached to a bicycle ready for useand a longitudinal vertical section of a saddle supported thereby. Fig.3 represents the under side of the front end of a bicycle-saddle,showing one means for attaching this improved spring to a saddle.

The same reference-numbers indicate the same parts in all the figures.

This spring for a bicycle-saddle comprises a downwardly-bowed bow-shapedupper member 20, an upwardly-bowed bow-shaped lower member 40, and aninclined intermediate member 30, connected at its opposite ends,respectively, with said bow-shaped members, the convexed faces of theupper and lower bow-shaped members being in contact with the inclinedmember. The downwardlybowed bow-shaped member 20 is fastened at itsopposite ends to the opposite ends of a bicycle-saddle 10. The inclinedmember 30 is connected at one end with the bow-shaped member 20 on oneside of the center thereof by bolts 35 and 36 or other suitable meansand diverges therefrom gradually from the point of attachment. Themember 20 is illustrated in the drawings as provided with boltholes 21and 22 at one end and with a slot 23 at the other end, and thesaddle-leather is provided at its front end with a block 11' Serial No.688,127. (No model.)

and at its rear end with a block 12. One end of the spring member '20 issecured to the block 12 by means of bolts 15 and 16 passing through saidblock and through said holes 21 and 22, and the other end is fastened tothe block 11 by a bolt 17 passing through said block and through theslot 23. The slot 23 permits adjustment of the member 20, whereby itscurvature may be increased or diminished. The short upwardly curvedbow-shaped member 40 is connected at one end integrally or otherwisewith the lower end of the inclined member 30, and these members laptogether from their point of union toward the center of the member 40,and their area of contact increases as the saddle is depressed. Theopposite end of the member 40 is secured to the saddle-post 60 in anysuitable manner. When constructed as herein shown, the member 40 isprovided with an attaching-plate 41, adapted to rest on said post, and aclip 50, having a tightening-screw 51, clamps said member, andconsequently the spring and saddle, to said post. A block 52, whichserves as a packing, is preferably interposed between the saddle-postand the straight attaching-plate 41 of the member 40.

When a rider mounts in the saddle, the curved face of the memberincreases its area of contact with the inclined member from their pointof attachment toward their centers, and the upper curved face of thelower member increases its area of contact in like manner with theopposite end of the inclined member 30 from their point of attachmenttoward their centers, and under the weight of the rider this increasedcontact of the members tends to stiffen and reinforce the spring, givinga soft and easy motion to the saddle. By this peculiar construction ofthe overlapping members from their points of attachment toward theircenters the spring is rendered automatically adjustable, and the samespring can be used for either a heavy or a light weight rider, givingthe same case and elasticity without danger of breaking or bottoming.

The use of this spring is also favorable to the pneumatic tire in thatit renders it less liable to puncture than when a rigid saddle,

or a saddle having a stiff spring, or a spring which will bottom whenthe wheel comes in contact with an obstruction, is used.

I claim as my invention 1. A bicycle-saddle spring composed of adownwardly curved bow shaped member adapted for attachment at itsopposite ends to the opposite ends of a saddle, an inclined memberattached at one end to one end of said bow-shaped member, and anupwardlycurved lower member attached at one end to the other end of theinclined member and adapted for attachment at its opposite end to thesaddle-post of a bicycle, the curved faces of the upper and lowermembers coming in contact with the inclined member, the contact of saidmembers increasing with the increase in weight on the saddle, andthereby stiffening and reinforcing the spring.

2. In a bicycle-saddle spring, the combination of an inclined middlemember, upper and lower members convexed in opposite directions towardsaid' middle member, and attached to the opposite ends thereof, saidconvexed members lapping upon said middle member from their points ofattachment toward the center, the contact of said middle member withboth said upper and lower members increasing with an increase in weighton the saddle, and operating to stiffen and reinforce the spring, theupper curved member being adapted for attachment at its opposite ends tothe opposite ends of the saddle, and means for attaching the lowermember to the saddle-post.

SELDEN A. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

J. B. CLAUTICE, M. F. BOYLE.

